The service will explore the cosmos and include mythological, sacred, scientific, and a few personal stories.

We will be joined by members of the San Francisco Threshold Choir and its Director, Kate Munger, singing three beautiful starry night songs.

Worship Associate Anna Sylvester will share a credo, and famed storyteller Sandra Niman will tell us some "In the Beginning" tales.

The chancel will be graced by the voice of soprano Nanette McGuinness accompanied by pianist Mark Johnson.

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.
-- T.S. Eliot

David Dupree will moderate a panel discussion focusing on the Presidential primary election which brings Californians to the polls on February 5th.

Guest panelists will be Milo Hanke, Brendan O'Brien , Eric Nelson, and Quintin Mecke, former candidate for Mayor of San Francisco.

The free program will start at 9:45. Come at 9:30 for conversation, coffee, and (for a slight charge) a light breakfast.

from Betty Skwarek
Acting Director of Religious Education

First and 2nd graders in Religious Education classes may offer you a "warm fuzzy" in the hallways Sunday. This warm fuzzy is a special item which the children made themselves as part of their project on good thoughts in conjunction with the January focus on responsibility.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders made such good decisions during their work on their projects that students will be announcing their planned actions at this week's chapel.

Art and youth choir are back in action. The art group has been particularly busy framing pictures for the children's art show that will be hung on February 2.

If your child hasn't tried one of these before-class activities, come at 10 on Sunday to see what we offer. Art is for children 5 and older, and choir is for those who are 6 and up.

New students are welcome throughout the year, and parents are invited to phone Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek at 776-4580 for more information.

We have some great pictures for the Flame and the Society's website. Including -- probably -- of your child! Please let us know that it's okay to include your child in our public photos by filling out an authorization statement. The forms are available on the table outside the Chapel and on the Religious Education Google Group site. Please give completed slips to Betty Skwarek or turn them in at the church office.

from the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)

As the crisis in Kenya continues, a three-person Unitarian Universalist emergency assessment delegation has reached Nairobi and has begun collecting information and personal accounts of the ongoing violence in that country. The members of the delegation are Dr. Charlie Clements, President/CEO of the UUSC, Atema Eclai, Program Director for the UUSC and a native of Kenya, and Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, minister of Fourth Universalist Society in New York City and a founder of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry.

Dr. Clements began reporting online from Kenya Tuesday.

Last Friday, UUA President Rev. William G. Sinkford issued a pastoral letter on the violence in Kenya and Pakistan. He wrote:

I am sure that you have been paying attention to the reporting about the post-election violence in Kenya, as well as to the harrowing events occurring in Pakistan-preceding and following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Many of you are also aware that Unitarian/Universalists in Kenya and Pakistan are among those who have suffered directly. We have received reports that the home of a Unitarian pastor in Kenya was among those that have been burned to the ground, and that many Unitarian families are among the nearly 500,000 newly displaced people in Kenya.

And on Thursday, January 10th, we received a report that two members of the Unitarian Universalist Christians of Pakistan were among the 23 people killed during a suicide bombing in Lahore.

In his letter, Sinkford offered a Prayer in a Time of Mourning for those killed in the violence and announced the creation of the UUSC/UUA Kenya Crisis Fund.

Old Growth Forest — Muir Woods

from Anna Sylvester

Members and friends have already donated guided touring/hiking/walking events to the March silent auction. These adventures will take you from Crissy Field to Mt. Tamalpais to a Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Muir Woods!

Why not donate a tour of your neighborhood, a walk through Golden Gate Park, a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, a walk in North Beach?

You're invited to stop by the Great Green Auction table in the Thomas Starr King Room after Sunday services. Come and donate your time and skills - cooking, hikes, lessons, parties - use your imagination! The GREAT GREEN AUCTION showcases everyone!

The auction will take bids two consecutive Sundays, March 2 and March 9. The Society is asking for you to give of yourself – your talents, your services – not stuff.

Unitarians Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (UFETA) will be collecting signatures for a ballot initiative regarding the treatment of farm animals after the service Sunday.

UFETA joins Californians for Humane Farms - a coalition sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary, In Defense of Animals, family farmers, veterinarians, and public health professionals - to launch a groundbreaking ballot initiative campaign to place the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot.

This initiative will provide the most basic protection to farm animals: merely allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs.

The purpose of the measure is to prevent three of the cruelest and inhumane forms of extreme confinement in the world of animal agribusiness: veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates.

UFETA asks you to sign on to make this initiative campaign a success for animals.

Editor's note: UFETA's actions are taken in that organization's name. The First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco may in the future take a position on the proposed initiate by a resolution adopted by the vote of the Membership.

Come join in a discussion after service in the Fireside Room on how the community is doing — and how we can do an even better job — of welcoming visitors to our church.

Current Greeters, Greeter Subs, and anyone who would like to explore Greeter-hood are invited to come to the conversation. New members and newcomers to the community are especially encouraged to share their perspectives.

Pianist Edred Marshall (pictured at left) will perform Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonatas in a free public concert series which will begin Saturday (January 26) at 8 pm in the Chapel.

The eight-Saturday-night musical experience will open with an evening that includes Appassionata, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor.

Marshall is a critically-acclaimed artist who has performed internationally including in concerts in Spain, Italy, and the Republic of San Marino. He is the first African-American/Black pianist to perform the 32 piano sonatas of Beethoven in public, from memory, as a concentrated series.

Members and friends are invited to attend this free community event which is sponsored by QFX Entertainment.